“Russia can blow up Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after returning it to Ukraine” – Zelensky

Russia could hand over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, still mined, to blow it up remotely, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Spanish media on July 1.

He said in case Russia decides to hand the nuclear plant to Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should check it thoroughly.

They are looking for a moment to blow up ZNPP. We know for sure that they considered one of the plans to remotely detonate the plant after it is handed over to Ukraine.

When we get the plant back, the IAEA should check everything clearly and in detail, and warn Russia that we know about their alleged plans, and they are dangerous for the world, Zelensky said.

The President noted that Russia is planning to release the radiation at the ZNPP to "freeze" the war. The scenario is vital for strengthening their army and returning to Ukraine with another stage of war.

As top defense official Oleksii Danilov emphasized, the world should regard a possible Russian terrorist attack on the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as "the use of nuclear weapons against the civilian population."

The very fact that these terrorists carry out an attack on a nuclear facility will be considered by as the use of nuclear weapons against the civilian population. Therefore, we will carefully observe, if God forbid this happens, what will be the world's reaction to these events, he stressed.

Previously, on March 4, 2022, Russian troops occupied the ZNPP.

On June 22, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Russia's plans to stage a terrorist attack at the nuclear plant.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov said that Ukraine "is carefully preparing for any scenario around Zaporizhzhia NPP."

The head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, recalled the mining of the ZNPP cooling pond by Russian troops and reported that the occupiers had placed explosives near four of the plant's six power units.